Discernment

“If you want to be happy, do not pray for discernment.” - A. W. Tozer

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”   John 15:5-7

it’s not easy seeing things others do not,

seeing past the surface, past the smoke screens,

past the insincerity, past the lies,

seeing the hypocrisy, the hidden agendas,

the self-seeking motives, the falseness,

you begin to see people in a different light,

you begin to see them for what they really are;

you see it in others,

you see it in yourself;

it is like talking to dead bones,

being surrounded by living corpses,

remaining silent, even though you want

to scream, knowing it wouldn’t change anything,

even if you did;

it is not judgment, it is not condemnation,

it is a deep, quiet sadness, an unspeakable burden,

because you know that you are just as guilty,

just as undeserving, just as despicable,

just as failed;

you realize just how opaque and pervasive

evil really is, appearing as an angel of light,

infiltrating into cracks and shadows,

you understand just how manipulative

and devious the enemy truly is;

You are the Vine, we are the branches,

without You we can do nothing,

through You we can do all things.

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